Welcome! This free speech community journal was created so the Maple Heights African American community could share videos, photos, events, articles, posts, ideas, thoughts, and information. We're now exclusively on Facebook, so don't forget to also check out our Facebook page. Have a fantastic day!

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Update:10/12/2015 2pmsee our continuing comments 10/27/2015 (in italics) at the very bottom of this post

Well, if you trust the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (which sorry we don't), after Wednesday's count there will be two candidates with relatively little public service experience vying for mayor of Maple Heights in the November Election. Bill is a 1 term councilman (who caused many of the inhabitants of Maple Heights City Hall great angst) and Annette was "Mayor appointed" to serve on Charter Review in 2011, but has never held an elected office in Maple Heights city government. Maple, by the way, is in Fiscal Emergency.

As we see it, you'll either have another "white male" as mayor or one that is "white male" mayor approved. Maple Heights has an estimated 70% African American population with considerable money circulation problems. Whether you like African Americans or not, if money continues to largely circulate outside the community (that includes paying a large number of full time city employees who for the most part live and spend their money outside the city), Maple Heights financial problems will remain. That's bad for white and black residents. Regarding these taxes asked for ... they are temporary fixes at best and will not correct the long standing multitude of financial problems facing Maple; (what will help) money circulation within the community will.

We know at least one of the candidates wants more transparency in government, the other, "who the hell knows".

Both candidates are loose canons (meaning you don't know what the hell they'll do once they get in office). Both candidates may shy away from dealing with the Department of Justice (2) (3), though it wouldn't be a wise move.

One will most certainly be replacing the current "issues with transparency" Law Director (When? No one knows), the other we hope will but we're skeptical. Residents are going to have to carefully watch whoever is appointed to that position, including the Assistant Law Director position.No matter which candidate lands in the mayor's seat, (ARTICLE V, THE EXECUTIVE) they will be handing out appointments. This is what should really concern you!!!!Be careful of those candidates who push taxes. Think about who is being fed with your taxes (and we're also talking about school taxes). When those schools were built, who were the contractors? Who made money in the building of those schools? Did residents participate in the building of those schools? We're there any local contractors used (esp. Black contractors)? Did those who dispensed our tax money insist that there be Black contractors/Maple Hts residents or Maple Heights/Black residents who would receive on the job training? Are there any Black contractors being used now? Look beyond the rhetoric you hear. Look at where your money goes and to whom the money goes.

As to candidates who will or could possibly have a seat on council come 2016 .. well, there's Toni Jones who seems to think "a resident speaking up (in 2011) about what she feels is a sitting mayor attacking the character of a Black female candidate without cause" is "playing the race card". Ron Jackson and Edwina Agee (as did all of the current council members, including Brownlee first go round) voted for speed cameras in Maple Heights (without voter consent). And then there's two uncontested wild cards, Stafford Shenett (an attorney), ... and Tanglyn Madden.

This is what we said in August 2012. Click the link: MAPLE HEIGHTS LEADERSHIP NEEDS TO GO. Adams, Cefaratti, Lansky and Albers will soon be gone, though whose to say who may linger in the background. Not sure if Jones or Trojanski will remain though our guess is they will.

Side note: While we appreciate people's passions and comments, we've been dealing with Maple Heights city government for quite some time, and have put in the time and effort to try to understand how to create viable, diverse communities.

And to those who comment: Do you know where your tax dollars go? Do you attend council meetings? Do you ask your council representative pertinent questions? Have you ever asked for public records? If not, why not? Do you know how to create viable and diverse communities? Have you done any research on how to create viable, diverse communities? Do you understand the principle of money circulation and how to circulate money within a community (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)? If you're a politician, are you prepared to deal with the constant problems of running a government and criticisms thrown at you, and prepared to get calls late at night (or all through the night)?As a politician, do you have the balls to criticize the police if necessary and deal with police union demands?

We're not candidates or politicians and we don't bow down to any politician. If you want to be in public office, get a thick skin and get used to the criticisms (and deal with them) or pack up and leave.

[Edited 10/04/2015]"And to the person who left a comment in the comment section stating we promised to work together (??? WTH!!). Since we did not attend any mayor's forum and we're not candidates or politicians who promised anything, your comment regarding what we said is misdirected. ****We made no such comments.

It's also very obvious that we have some commenters who have only been to the Maple Heights African American Gazette once or twice and are supporters of Ms. Blackwell (Which is fine - but that remark "Get Over It" was adolescent). Look around. You'll find links to not only "Codified Ordinances of Maple Heights", but also to organizations that are excellent resources.

Each commenter needs to do their own research and ask relevant questions of both candidates and go to council meetings and ask for public records. Please do read the section "About Us". Finally, ... Just because you're an African American doesn't mean we trust you or support you. You have to earn our trust and support.

We (plural) live here and we watch City Hall, this community and its leadership and community organizers and those who are considered community activists. We also speak out and ask for public records and place ourselves at grave risk for doing so in some instances."

The Maple Heights News did video tape the mayor's forum and post on YouTube along with their other video tapes of council meetings, etc. ____-------------------------______-------------------------__________**************

10/27/2015

You wanted an education, we're going to give it to you .... though you may not like what you read. Click HERE

Thursday, September 10, 2015

No surprises for the small turn-out at the polls. A big surprise in the picking of what we believe is a tax your way out of a crisis, status quo as she goes, candidate (Annette Blackwell) to run against Mr. Brownlee or Mrs. Mitchell (still to close to call) in November.

Now we know we're going to hear the words "sour grapes" spew forth out of the top pick; but just as important as the candidate are the appointments. For instance, .. Will we see the same law director or will the second in command move up? Neither one is our choice given the transparency history. Will anyone be paying attention?

And if things couldn't get any worse, we've got (we believe) at least one rogue in the safety division. There are forces at play that would scare the hell out of residents if known, but transparency and accountability has not been Maple Heights City Hall's strong suit for quite a while (Mr. Brownlee's "strongly objected to by many at city hall" cameras excluded) .

Keep your eyes open and hold on to your seats cause it's going to be a very very rocky ride for residents.

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Luke 11:9-10 says,

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

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Welcome to the Maple Heights African American Gazette, created for the African American residents in districts 1 thru 7. If you would like to post your small business, post pictures, post an event on the calendar page, write an article, or upload a video, or be included in our mailing list, please email mhaagazette@gmail.com , or call 216.202.4083 and leave a message.

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IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS VOTE, AND THEN ONLY VOTE FOR POLITICIANS (LOCAL, STATE, FED) WHO WILL PROTECT THEIR CIVIL/CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

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IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS VOTE FOR/HIRE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES IN THE LEGAL/JUDICIAL SYSTEM (INCLUDES THE COURTS, THE POLICE, ETC) WHO WILL PROTECT THEIR CIVIL/CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.--AND MOST IMPORTANT - TO VOTE FOR/HIRE ONLY THOSE POLITICIANS/PUBLIC EMPLOYEES THAT WILL EMPOWER AFRICAN AMERICANS POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY. ... REAL POWER AND NOT CRUMBS OFF THE TABLE AS WE'VE SEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN.